Obituaries from October 2003

Bertha B. Grimes Hoffman Porter, 86, of Springville, Ind., and formerly of Brazil, died at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2003, in Westview Manor Nursing Center, Bedford, Ind. Born Aug. 8, 1917, in Brazil, she was the daughter of the late Elmer Franklin Grimes and Emily Gaynelle McKenzie Grimes. A graduate of Staunton High School, she attended Terre Haute Vocational School and became a Licensed Practical Nurse. She worked at Clay County Hospital and as an office nurse for Dr. Curt Oehler...

Edna L. Smith, 76, of Brazil, died Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2003, at 3:19 p.m. in Union Hospital. Born July 19, 1927, in Putnam County, she was the daughter of Ren and Fay Glitz McCullough. She graduated from Reelsville High School. On Oct. 15, 1949, she married Arthur Smith. He preceded her in death May 8, 2001...

Thomas L. Salyers, 94, formerly of Coal City, died at 6:55 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003, at the Residence at McCormick's Creek in Spencer. Born May 3, 1909, he was the son of Hugh and Logusta McSchooler Salyers who have preceded him in death. On Sept. 29, 1930, he married Florence Onita Spurling in Indianapolis. She preceded him in death on Nov. 14, 1977...

Ruby I. VanNess, 79, of rural Brazil, collapsed at her home late Monday evening and was later pronounced dead at midnight on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at St. Vincent Clay Hospital. She was being treated by a physician for a heart condition. She was born in the Asherville community of Clay County on May 26, 1924, the daughter of Roy Vern Lucas and Anna Marie Bullerdick Lucas. A graduate of Staunton High School, she later attended Indiana Business College in Terre Haute...

Kevin Douglas Barclay, 38, of Indianapolis, formerly of Terre Haute, died Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003, in St. Francis Hospital, Beech Grove, Ind. Born Nov. 17, 1964, he was the son of Herbert and Ardelia Yates Barclay. He was a graduate of Terre Haute South High School, Indiana Vocational Technical College and was an avid Patsy Cline fan...

Lester A. Nolte Sr., 81, of Brazil, died Saturday, Oct. 4, 2003, at his residence. He had been in failing health for several years. Born Dec. 21, 1921, in Clay County, he was the son of Emanuel and Lottie McCullough Nolte. He graduated from Reelsville High School and was a life-long carpenter and farmer until his retirement in 1989 due to health problems. He worked for the late John Pell and the late Fred Emmert...

Carl C. Miller, 83, of Brazil, died Saturday, Oct. 4, 2003, at 10:10 a.m. in Cloverleaf Healthcare. He had been a resident there for only a few days. Born March 21, 1920, in Brazil, he was the son of Charles and Elsie Mace Miller. He attended Brazil High School and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II...

Gene Lee Munro, 58, of Cape Coral, Fla., died at 4:45 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6, 2003, at Hope Hospice House in Cape Coral. Born July 4, 1945, in Port Clinton, Ohio, he was the son of William James Munro and Edith Louise Wright Munro who have preceded him in death...

Douglas M. Leland, 59, of Clay City, formerly of Martinsville, died at 5: 45 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003, at his residence. He was born on March 7, 1944, in Saginaw, Mich., the son of Merle and Beatrice Wagner Leland, who preceded him in death. He married Juanita Morgan Leland on Oct. 12, 1996, in Patricksburg; she survives...

Emmert D. Woodburn, 84, formerly of Bowling Green and Terre Haute, died at 3:50 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, 2003. Born Oct. 13, 1918, in Owen County, he was the son of John and Emma Dalton Woodburn who are also deceased. He attended school in Clay City and on Dec. 7, 1946, he married Gladys Culler in Dunkirk, Ind. She preceded him in death on Oct. 1, 1995...

Robert W. Kempf Sr., 73, of Cloverdale, died Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2003, at his residence. He was born Feb. 7, 1930, in Brazil, the son of John William Kempf and Marie M. Wells Kempf. He married Stephanie Evelyn "Peppy" Zaborski Kempf on April 30, 1954; she preceded him in death on July 22, 1993...

RALPH IRWIN ROGERS SR. Ralph Irwin Rogers Sr., 68, of Greencastle, died Thursday, Oct. 9, 2003, at his residence. He was born Nov. 5, 1934, in Putnam County, Ind., the son of Arthur and Mary Louise Higgins Rogers. He served a 4-year term in the Army National Guard. He was employed with Lonestar Industries in Greencastle for 42 years, retiring in 1995...

MILDRED JACKS Mildred Jacks, 87, of Phoenix, Ariz., died Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2003, in her home in Phoenix, Ariz. She was born on Nov. 25, 1915, in Clay City to Emma and John N. Niswonger. She graduated from Brazil High School in 1933 and was married in 1941...

Margaret Ritchison, 77, of Rockville, died at 12:25 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, 2003, in the Rockville Nursing and Rehab Center. Born April 3, 1926, in Bobtown, Ky., she was the daughter of James M. Lovins and Dovie Katherine Herrin, who preceded her in death...

John Ed Ley, 86, of Clay City and Bonita Springs, Fla., died at 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 10, 2003, at St. Vincent Clay Hospital. He was born on Feb. 17, 1917, in Clay County. He was the son of John and Inez Kline, who have preceded him in death. Living in Clay City most of his life, he graduated from Clay City High School in 1935...

Fredrick Warren Targett, 86, of Brazil, died at noon on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2003, at Cloverleaf Healthcare. He was born Nov. 14, 1916, in Staunton, Ind. He was the son of Oliver and Edith Mitcher Targett. He was a graduate of Staunton High School. He married Dorothy Glossman on Nov. 25, 1942. She preceded Warren in death on Oct. 29, 1996...

Charlotte L. Peters, 85, of Brazil, died Oct. 12, 2003, at her son's residence. Born Aug. 4, 1918, in Terre Haute, she was the daughter of Louis and Freida Stickson Moody. She attended Gerstmeyer High School. On Jan. 15, 1944, she married Charles A. Peters. He preceded her in death in 1993...

Ira "Wayne" Corbin, 93, passed away at 4:40 a.m. Tuesday, October 14, 2003 in Holly Hill Health Care, Brazil. Born on June 3, 1910, to James M. Corbin and Effie Johnson Corbin, he was a lifelong resident of Clay County. On Jan. 12, 1931, he was united in marriage to Marion G. Barnhart Corbin in Paris, Illinois. She preceded him in death on Oct. 21, 1980...

Magaret Virostek, 77, of Westville, Ill. and formerly of Cayuga, Ind., died at 7:15 p.m., Monday, Oct. 13, 2003 at the Waters of Covington in Covington, Ind. She was born Dec. 17, 1925 in Clinton, Ind., to Arthur and Mable Hunt Kesner. She graduated from Cayuga High School in 1943. She was employed and retired from General Electric in Danville, Ill...

Charlotte M. Ave, 83, of Sandytown, Ind., died Sunday, Oct. 12, 2003 at 9 p.m. at her residence. She was born Aug. 6, 1920, in Sandytown, the daughter of Charles Jackson and Minnie Kelley Jackson. She was a retail clerk at JC Penney and Horney's True Value and a cook at Clinton High School...

Richard Zuel, 55, of Cory, died Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2003, in Union Hospital. Born Dec. 16, 1947, at Brazil, he was the son of Raymond and Betty Zuel. He was a member of the Center Point Masonic Lodge 597 and Eastern Star. He retired as unit team manager of Indiana State Farm at Putnamville...

S. Opal Detro, 92, of Greencastle, died Wednesday morning, Oct. 15, 2003, at the Asbury Towers Retirement Home in Greencastle. She was born March 24, 1911, in Woodstock, Ky., the daughter of Thomas and Susie Gastineau Abbot. She married Forest Detro on July 29, 1932, and he preceded her in death on May 20, 1984...

Thelma Altemiller, 78, of Poland, died at 5:29 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003, in St. Vincent Clay Hospital. Born Dec. 8, 1924, in Robinson, Ill., she was the daughter of Harley Harold Crawford and Mary Coombs Crawford. She was a homemaker and had worked 10 years at Mallory Co. in Greencastle...

Doris M. "Dottie" Farris, 76, of Staunton, died at 6:06 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2003, in Regional Hospital. Born March 30, 1927, in Vigo County, she was the daughter of John Erdle and Pearl Judson Thompson. She was a member of Staunton Christian Church...

Beulah L. West, 86, of Brazil, died in her residence. Born May 5, 1917, she was the daughter of Fred and Pearl May Eveland Bemis. She was a homemaker and a member of the Fairview Christian Church. She was an avid bingo player and enjoyed cooking, quilting and making crafts. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Everett West; two brothers, Monte Bemis and Chester Bemis; and a sister, Deloris Archer...

Hazel Lucille McMillin, 89, of Terre Haute, died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2003, at her home. She was born Oct. 19, 1914, to Russell and Helen Grammer in Riley, Ind. She was a homemaker and was a member of Vigo County Conservation Club, Stop 16 Saddle Club, Pony Express Club. She was a 4-H adult leader, a lunchroom lady at Maple Avenue School and a school crossing guard...

Arthur G. Reese Jr., age 78, of Terre Haute, died at 9:05 Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2003, at Shakamak Good Samaritan Center in Jasonville. He was born on Mar. 28, 1925, in Detroit, Mich., the son of Arthur G. Sr. and Lela White Reese, who have preceded him in death...

Gordon Thomas Love, 65, of Frankfort, Ind., died at 5:30 a.m., Friday, Oct. 25, 2003, at Home Hospital in Lafayette. Born April 25, 1938, in Thorntown, Ind., he was the son of Thomas and Delores Mainard Love who preceded him in death. He was a 1956 graduate of Van Buren High School. ...

Trevor M. Smith, 28, of Brazil, died Saturday, Oct. 25, 2003, at 6:35 a.m., in Clay Health Center. Born Sept. 28, 1975, in Brazil, he was the son of Walter "Pete" and June Jarrett Smith. He was in the class of 1994 at Northview High School and worked as an assistant Pizza Hut and Burger King manager. He played on the Northview golf and basketball teams. He also enjoyed playing baseball. He was a fan of the Colts and followed NASCAR racing. He loved music and attended many rock concerts...

Robert Lewis Loughmiller, 81, of Brazil died at 4:12 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, 2003, at Regional Hospital in Terre Haute. Born Dec. 29, 1921, in Dick Johnson Township, Clay County, he was the son of Charles Arthur and Edna Brenton Loughmiller and was a 1939 graduate of Brazil High School...

Jamie Lynn Marie Gillie, 3, of Terre Haute, died Friday, Oct. 24, 2003, in the emergency room of Union Hospital. She was born Oct. 25, 1999, in Terre Haute, the daughter of Billy Gillie and Amy Jo Henderson Gillie. She was looking forward to going to preschool after her birthday...

Marvin L. Schroer, 45, of Bowling Green, died at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27, 2003, in Indiana University Hospital, Indianapolis, from a rare brain disease. Born in Bloomington on May 3, 1958, his parents are Hubert and Dorothy Jenks Schroer of Bowling Green. A Bowling Green area resident all his life, he was a 1971 graduate of Clay City High School and briefly attended Purdue University...

Franklin Gale Green, 70, of Greencastle, Ind., passed away Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003, at the Putnam County Hospital. Born March 8, 1933, in Clay County, he was the son of Albert and Minerva (Lash) Green. In 1977, he married Virginia Myers Starr and she survives...

Bertha M. Reberger, 84, of Brazil, died Oct. 28, 2003, unexpectedly at her residence. Born March 12, 1919, in Vigo County, she was the daughter of Rufus B. and Mary Elizabeth Harmon. She graduated from Brazil High School. As a young lady, she traveled to Chicago and worked at the Spiegel Co. She later married B. Frank Reberger, who preceded her in death in 1986...

Rita Kay Pierce, 36, of Poland, died Monday, Oct. 27, 2003, at her residence after fighting cancer for more than a year. Born June 28, 1967, in Bloomington, Ind., she was the daughter of Rex and Shirley Giltz Cook. She graduated from Northview High School and married Doug Pierce on Feb. 1, 1992. He survives...

Bettie Mae Phillips, 79, of Greencastle, died Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003, at the Waters of Greencastle. She was born on March 23, 1924, in Brazil, the daughter of Bernie and Louise Brockmeier Sawyer. In 1960, she married Charles Beuford Phillips. He preceded her in death in 1982...

Frank L. Baxter, 79, of Greencastle, died Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2003, at Wishard Hospital in Indianapolis. He was born on April 20, 1984, in Cucumber, W.Va., the son of Charles Edward Baxter and Doshia Mae (Lyons) Baxter. He married Carol L. (Whitt) Baxter, who survives him, on Oct. 3, 1946...

Joan Wedel Nayarkas, 78, of Brazil, formerly of Terre Haute, died Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003 at Cloverleaf Healthcare Facility. She was born July 13, 1925, in Clay County, the daughter of Ernest and Ruth Tiefel Wedel. She graduated from Brazil High School and worked at Indiana State University as a secretary in the athletic department. She retired shortly after marrying Tony Nayarkas in June of 1958...

Dorothy Easter Carroll, 83, of Terre Haute, died at 4:40 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2003, at Union Hospital. She was born March 21, 1920, in Terre Haute, to Clifford and Rose Dowden Easter. She grew up in Saline City and attended Ashboro High School. She retired from Columbia Record, having worked there 27 years. She lived in Shady Oak Apartments until two years ago when she moved to her daughter Dee's house...

Opal F. Cooper Huff Maxwell, 80, of Terre Haute, died Thursday, Oct. 30, 2003, at Harborside Health Care. Born Oct. 22, 1923, in Vigo County, she was the daughter of Willis A. and Gladys McFadden Cooper. She was an avid gardener and loved flowers. She was a devoted mother and grandmother...